~SIERRA~
I thought for a second about the information they had found: “What information?” I asked.
“I'm sorry, we can't tell you anything until we are sure.”
“I won't let you take my grandmother, she's still under medical care, and this can cause stress and might delay her recovery,” I said. I was still mad at her, but that didn't mean I stopped caring for her; she was my grandmother.
“Sierra, it is okay, it's just questioning, if I don't go, they might think I'm hiding something,” Nana said, and I shook my he
~DAMIAN~I didn't say anything because I knew if I did, I would end up blurting nonsense. "Yes, she's my fiance. I know how lucky, right? Well, I can only thank God for her,” the man said, and my hands formed into fists. Why was he rubbing this in my face? Didn't he know that Sierra was my ex-wife?“Babe, we should go,” Sierra said to him, but her eyes were on me."No, it's fine, I came straight from the airport because I missed you. You can stay, and I'll go.”“No, let's go now.” Sierra sidestepped him and dragged him out by his hand. When the door closed, I punched the desk.“Ouch!” I screamed, as my fist was in pain.“Mr. Winters,” Jane ran to my side, I had forgotten that she was here with me. “What are you doing?” she asked, blowing on my hand, but I just looked away. How could Sierra be engaged? When I heard of it at first, I thought it was a lie, but after seeing her kiss him, I couldn't doubt it. They were in love, Sierra loved him, and the way he lovingly looked at her showe
~DAMIAN~There was no doubt that she was my child, it was possible—maybe Sierra never got an abortion as I requested.“Damian, I'm talking to you, and what?”“I don't have time.” I stood up.“Then you should make time,” she told me as I walked out. Cassie was stubborn and getting on my nerves. “I thought it was Sierra all this time, are you not guilty of cheating on me? I mean, you were guilty of talking to me when you were with Sierra but not me?”"Cassie, I'm not in the mood,” I said as I walked down the stairs.“You have to get in the mood,” she said and held my arm, and I forcefully released my arm. I don't know how it happened, because now Cassie was rolling down the stairs.“CASSIE!” I screamed and ran to save her, but it was already late as she was on the floor crying in pain.“Ah!”I kneeled and said, “Cassie, Cassie, can you hear me?” She was conscious but whimpering in pain.“My baby!” she said, and her hands reached for her belly.“Oh my God, the baby!” I panicked, picked h
~DAMIAN~I took steps towards her. “You knew that Sierra has a child?”"Damian, lower your voice, you will wake Cassie up,” she said, but that was just to try and change the topic.“You knew all this while and kept it from me?” I sneered.“Calm down, I didn't–I didn't know she had a child. Even if she did, you asked her to get an abortion, why do you care?”“That was before.” I calmed myself and scrat
~DAMIAN~Ava noticed my presence, and her eyes widened in fear, as if hiding something.“D-Damain, w-what are you doing here?” She stuttered, and I didn't respond, as I myself was in shock. The girl blinked and smiled. I loved her smile, it was like seeing Sierra smile–years when I would come from work and find by the door smiling but I would only ignore her and push my office bag in her hands.“Aunt, you have a patient,” the
~SIERRA~I walked out of Ava’s office without saying a word. I was in shock. I didn't expect to see Damian here, much worse for him to see my daughter. Ingrid looked like me, it would be hard for him to tell she was his daughter, but if he did the maths and looked at her carefully, he would figure it out. I know I owed him no explanation as he asked me to abort, but still, he was the father, and the court might permit him to see them. I didn't want that to happen–I would not let that happen. My kids are mine and mine alone; he didn't want them, so it will continue to be like that.“Sierr
~SIERRA~I looked at Lana unbelievably. “She was what?” I asked as I hoped for her to tell me it was a joke, Nana was still recovering, and I didn't want this to stress her.“She was taken as soon as you left.”“And you didn't inform me because?”“Ms.
~DAMIAN~I paced, unable to comprehend what Ava just said to me.“You're not the father, Damian, I don't want you to confuse yourself with this issue, Cassie's life is the one you should be concerned about,” she repeated, and I held my chin as I thought of ways I would get that little girl's hair for DNA. I didn't care if she was my daughter or not, all I knew was that I should get DNA, that would be the only way I would have peace. I faced Ava and almost asked her to do me the favour since I found her with her—it would be easy for her, but I swallowed my words as a knock was heard on the door, and Ava asked the person to come in.“Mr. Winters, Mrs. Winters is ready to leave,” said the nurse from earlier."Alright, thank you for informing me, I'll be with her shortly,” I said, and the nurse shook her head.“I'm sorry, but she's asking for you. It's best you come with me now,” the nurse said, and I nodded. I turned and bid Ava goodbye. We hugged, and she patted my back. I was grateful
~DAMIAN~Everything was my fault; I wish I could go back in time and fix it. “Damian?!” Cassie shook me out of my thoughts. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to remind you of them. I know how much their deaths affected you.”“It's fine, Cassie, it's not your fault, I need to be alone,” I said and walked out. Of course, she tried to stop me again, but I didn't turn this time. I walked straight to the living room and got a bottle of whisky. I knew a drink would help me calm down and forget about my terrible mistake. I walked up to my room, gulping down the whisky without needing a glass. When I reached my door, I kicked it and it opened, I walked straight to my bed. I gulped down the whisky, then caught my breath as I felt chills run down my veins and a burning sensation in my throat, which was the result of the alcohol. “Sierra, yes, let me call her,” I said out loud as I remembered her. She always had a way of calming me down, even when I denied it years ago. I knew she was my happy place.
FLORIDA, ST. AUGUSTINE 2023~DAMIAN~Ingrid did a good job keeping Sierra out, as it has been over two hours and they haven't returned to the house yet.The sun was setting and everything was perfect; we didn't need to do much, just the colorful lights, as the house was clean already.“Bottle is here,” Nathan excitedly said as he brought the bottle of juice. The bottle was the same as the one for champagne, and since they were too young for alcohol and Sierra was in that condition, we decided to settle for juice.“They are coming,” Atlas, who had been at the window, alerted us, and I quickly stood to my feet and hid the little box."Okay, wish me luck,” I said, and they both nodded, then Atlas switched off the light so that the candles could stand out.“Let us know when she says yes,” they said in unison before they hid behind the sofa.I was nervous. I've never been this nervous, even when I was handling court cases. I never got nervous, but Sierra, God, her reaction scared me.As I
FLORIDA, ST. AUGUSTINE 2023~DAMIAN~Whoever said love was a drug was damn right because I was high on it. Watching someone sleep for over an hour and simply enjoying the view is crazy because for the past week that's all I've been doing—watching Sierra sleep. It somehow gave me peace.After Sierra was released from the hospital, we stayed a week so I could sort everything.Ethan took over the head at the Winters, Sierra, and Thomas caught up as he left the detective work since Sam was not happy with it. Sierra gave them one of her restaurants in Texas, and they moved there—living in Sierra's home while Jane and her family moved into Sierra's mansion, the one in Georgia. Beatrice and Lana took mine as I wanted to express my gratitude for helping Sierra raise my children.After sorting everything, I booked tickets to Florida for a vacation since the holidays were in a month. We were still choosing a place to settle and start a family, as Georgia and Texas held bad memories, so we were
~DAMIAN~The first days we used protection, but after a few, we just couldn't control ourselves as we would get in the moment and only think of protection afterward. I didn't need protection; Sierra was my wife, but she always brought it up.Well, I was just so happy that we were going to have a baby—that Sierra gave me another chance.I walked to her bedside, kneeled, and started apologizing.“I'm sorry, I...”“It's okay; I know you did it to protect me.”“Still I hurt you; I should have told you; I shouldn't have pushed you away like that.”“And I understand; I forgive you; I do.” She was now holding my hands. “Please get up.”“Sierra I…”“Now Damian,” she demanded, and so I was left with no choice but to get up.“I'm really sorry; I promise that was not my intention; I was just trying to protect you and our kids. Ava called me; she threatened me.” She nodded her head in understanding and then squeezed my hand in a comforting manner.“Do you want to feel her heartbeat?” she asked, a
~DAMIAN~ “I was not planning to kill you, but...” Ava said as she walked close to Sierra, the burning matchstick still in between her fingers. My hands were now in the air, pleading with her. “Please… Whatever I have done, please just... Just let Sierra go, punish...punish me.” "Oh, sweet Damian, my cousin is in love,” she mockingly said, “but this is not about you; it's about her, her mother!” she yelled. “Actually,” she calmed herself, “it's about the both of you; your father did my mother dirty and her mother did my mother dirty, and so you are both going to pay.” It was not the Ava I knew; this woman sounded crazy. “Ava…” “Kneel!” I didn't want to argue, as I knew trying to reason would not work, so I kneeled my eyes on Sierra and the matchstick between Ava's fingers. “Good,” she mockingly said and blew to the matchstick so the fire could go as it was below her finger. “Do you want to hear a little story?” She asked as if I had a choice. Then she started talking about h
~DAMIAN~“Speed up!” I yelled, and Thomas agreed with me as he asked the driver to drive faster. Each second we were wasting was ticking as Sierra's life was in danger.When Atlas returned, he told me about the people who kidnapped him and how they told him that I was his father. I knew it wasn't the right time, but I took him upstairs to his siblings and told them the truth—that I was their father and that Sierra and I were once together.I didn't tell them about the contract as I thought it might be complicated for them, and so I told them about making a horrible mistake that made Sierra walk away. They were understanding, as they didn't judge; instead, they were happy that I was their father.I was not in a better mood, so I forced them to eat and helped them get ready for bed before I left Mrs. Woods with them as Jane had to get home to her baby. Sam and Thomas stayed downstairs with the officers, who came to help check for clues, and waited in case the kidnappers called—they thou
~SIERRA~Ava explained planning Damian’s parents' deaths because, as she said, the company and everything the Winters owned belonged to her. She explained how she got Damian on a drug so he would have terrible headaches. “I haven't been giving it to him lately, so he seems to be overcoming it,” she added. Then she explained using Carl to have her revenge on Mr. Reid since Damian’s parents were out of her way now."Oh, and the second man who left my mother couldn't be found. Turns out my so-called father wasn't useless as he took him down, leaving his son and wife in the streets.”“Son?”"Yes, your brother.”“What?!”“Ow, don't tell me the detective hasn't told you that you're his sister; that's why he has been protective over you; it's because you're his little sister.”“What?!” again I asked, as this was too much. How was it possible that Detective Thomas was my brother? Okay, nothing was making sense.“The man your father was cheating with was Thomas’s father.” She said, but I shook
~SIERRA~I haven't seen Ava since forever; she said to be in New York working with patients. How was it that she was here? My eyes roamed the room, and I realized, unlike where Lily took me, this place seemed like a home as I was on a sofa. I was almost relaxed, but when I saw that both my legs and hands were tied, I panicked.“W-what's going on? Why am I here? And…”“This is not the time for questions, Sierra; trust me.” Ava cut me as she picked a glass of wine on the table and took a sip before she placed it down and then stared at me.I still didn't understand what was happening, but something was clear: Ava tied my legs and hands, which meant she was the one who caused that accident; she was the one who kidnapped me.“Ava I…”“I will shut your mouth for you if you don't shut it; it's me to talk, not you.” She calmly said, and I nodded my head. Then she stood up with the glass of wine in her hands and said, "See, years ago, Rosemarie was just an innocent girl who didn't know the w
~SIERRA~I cleaned my cheeks and then walked toward my car. My driver was standing out as he opened the door for me. “To the station,” I told him as he waited for my instruction."Yes, ma’am,” he said and then started the car.Again, I found my hand traveling down to my flat belly. I never planned for this, and now that Damian didn't want the child, I was not going to keep it. I haven't seen myself pregnant for over five years, especially with Damian's child again.Or maybe he knew that I fell pregnant and he was doing the same thing he did years ago, running away. I closed my eyes and tried to focus. No, I couldn't let this distract me; I won't let it get in my way of finally having peace.“Ms. Reid,” the driver's voice shook me out of my thoughts. I then realized we had arrived at the station. “Should I come in with you?” He asked as he opened the door for me. I shook my head and told him to wait for me there; he just worked for me; I didn't need him to mix with my problems.When I
~SIERRA~No, this was not happening; I won't let it happen again. So I banged once more and the door flew open, and Damian, who looked healthy like he was not just in a coma, opened and asked me to come in. I could tell by his facial expression that something was wrong.“Do you want anything?” He asked as I took a seat on the sofa. No, I was calm. I was not the same Sierra from years ago who burst when he started acting like this. I was a mature, respectful woman. I couldn't act on my emotions, so I asked him for a glass of water.He walked away to the kitchen, and my eyes couldn't help but roam the area; it was just the same as I left it, in Cassie's style.“Water,” Damian's voice made me turn to him. I took the glass from his hand and thanked him, then placed it on the table.“Okay,” I cleared my throat as he looked restless like he wanted me to leave. “The doctor called me and told me you left without his consent.”"Yeah, I'm feeling fine; why should he keep me there?” He sounded r